Gloom's Whisper

by Sela Croft

  Her eyes lit up and she threw her arms around my neck. I melted into her embrace. Any feeling of uncertainty regarding my decision evaporated as I nestled my face down into her hair. Inhaling deeply, I was filled with her essence.

  My mind was made up. There was only one thing left to do.

  “I will go with you,” I said, holding her out at arm’s length. “But I have to attend to something first. It won’t take long.”

  Callie looked worried. “I can’t pull you away from your responsibilities.”

  “Don’t worry. Once I do what I need to, Crystal City will be equipped for whatever may come in my absence.”

  “Okay, I trust you,” she said.

  “Before we go, why don’t you get something to eat? Bernadette has been working since our return, preparing a meal for you.”

  She seemed to relish the prospect of food, so hurried from the room. Alone with Kaida, I turned to look out at the city. I didn’t feel remorse, as perhaps I should have. I felt as if a burden was about to be lifted. I was rejuvenated and prepared to make my move.

  “You’re sure about this?” Kaida said, once I revealed my plan to her.

  “I am…very sure.”

  “You should have told her.”

  “I couldn’t do that,” I said, shaking my head.

  My eyes were fixed on the horizon, not on the shimmering buildings below me. Somewhere out there was Callie’s sister. That was my priority now—finding her. The Fae princess had made this personal the day she’d kidnapped Rosamon. She had no idea that she had made it personal for me, though. She’d had no idea of the consequence, when she’d decided to bring the humans to our world.

  “She doesn’t need to worry about what’s going on here,” I said. “She needs to worry about her sister.”

  “And what do you need to worry about?”

  “I need to worry about ensuring that the future of Shadowland is in the hands of a ruler who can give their heart to the mission. Not someone who’s heart belongs elsewhere. I’m not fit to lead them anymore.”

  “That can’t be undone.”

  “I’m aware,” I said and headed for the door. “And I’m ready to accept that. I need to gather the council again. But first, I’ll speak with my brothers.”

  I stepped out into the hall and took a deep breath. My decision was the best. My action couldn’t be reversed, but I couldn’t lose Callie. Any possibility of losing her seemed worse than relinquishing my kingdom to one better suited to the task.

  Chapter 42

  Rosamon

  Stepping away from the mirror, a sense of calm washed over me. Seeing Noah always made me feel that way. But now, knowing that he was coming for me allowed me to relax, more than I had since my arrival to this strange place.

  I was sure that he’d arrive soon, so I began by collecting a few items to bring with me. That included some books I favored, and the few articles of clothing that had been provided to me. I ate a few bites of the meal that had been brought in, but my nerves prohibited me from eating too much.

  Setting the plate down on the bed next to me, I pushed myself forward to dangle my feet over the edge. Running my toes along the cool stone, I tried to fight back the doubt forming in my gut.

  I wasn’t sure that Noah could save me, without help from the others. It was dangerous. Maybe it would have been better to wait for him to gather a team.

  I hopped off the bed and went to the mirror, prepared to try to reach out to him again. But there was already a face there, staring back at me. Amalia’s unexpected appearance started me.

  “You frighten much easier than your sister,” Amalia said with a mocking laugh.

  “What do you know of my sister?”

  “Just that she’s worried about you,” Amalia said. “Poor thing is beside herself. If only she knew that you weren’t alone, maybe then she would feel better.”

  “What do you mean?” I shuddered to think that she referred to whatever caused the building shake with violence. And if so, I didn’t see how that would make Callie feel better.

  “You haven’t figured it out yet? And I thought you were the smart one. Your sister still hasn’t figured out who she is. I guess you haven’t either.”

  “I’m sick of your games!” I shouted, rushing toward the mirror. Taking hold of the frame, I lowered my face to hers and eyed her, angrily. “Out with it!”

  “And rob you of the joy of discovery? I wouldn’t think of doing such a thing.”

  “I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me. I learned magic; I tried your stupid spell. I read your books and I…”

  “My books?” she said, shaking her head. “You didn’t read them very carefully, did you?”

  Confused, I pulled away from the mirror. Returning to the bed, I began to flip through the books frantically. Scanning the pages, I wondered what she was talking about. With Amalia’s mocking laughter as the backdrop of my search, I scanned the books again. It wasn’t until I’d reached the point of desperation and collapsed onto the floor, the books scattered around me, that I saw it.

  “There it is,” Amalia said, as I lifted the book to my face.

  There, on the inside cover of the book I favored most, a familiar name was written in dull ink. “Bramwell Mayfair,” I said, then traced the name with my fingertip. “Mayfair.”

  “Wait, isn’t that your last name? But who is Bramwell, then?”

  “Bram,” I said, the name pulling up a world of memories. “My father?”

  “Well, where did you think that power of yours came from?” Amalia said. “You were born into it.”

  “And he’s in this tower?”

  Amalia shrugged, her eyes still dancing with laughter. “If he is, then he’s been here for a very long time.”

  “Wait!” I called out, rushing to the mirror. “Don’t do that!” I yelled at my own reflection. “What does that mean?”

  It was difficult to believe that my father was locked in that tower. Confusion swept through me, like a whirlwind. It couldn’t be. Bramwell Mayfair had died years ago. He had been killed in a car crash, leaving us orphaned.

  I couldn’t be certain, though. Trying to pull up memories of the funeral was too painful, and any recollection of the days before and after were muddled with tears and sorrow. Shaking my head, I pushed myself up to my feet. I began to pace the room, trying to clear my thoughts.

  I had to get out of there, and figure out what was going on. I wanted to believe that Amalia was lying. She would, since she enjoyed tormenting me and seeing my pain. Her bits of information left me confused and helpless.

  I reassured myself that Noah was coming soon.

  The air shifted, the change that occurred just before the walls began to shake. My body went rigid. There was nothing else I could do. Just as the floor began to tremble, I ran to my bed. Pulling my legs into my chest, I braced for the tremors that had become part of my everyday life.

  While the room shook I counted out loud, trying to think of Noah, of anything other than the creature or spirit that was causing the walls to shake wildly around me. I counted to one hundred. That was how long it took, usually. But, when I reached one hundred one, and the walls continued to tremble, I knew that this was going to be worse than any quake I’d experienced before.

  “Help!” I called out, trying to get the attention of the jailors who were stationed outside the thick metal door. “Someone, please help me!”

  I yelled until my voice was hoarse and my eyes were filled with tears. When it was obvious that no one was coming, I began to scan my room for a safer place to hide. That’s when I saw her. I wasn’t sure at first, given that my vision was blurred from the tears.

  Staring at the mirror across from me, I saw my sister’s image. One second, she was there, the next she was gone. The vision in the mirror swirled when I tried to focus on it. One instant, I was staring at myself, the next, it was my sister.

  “Callie!”

  “Rosamon!”

  I crawled tow
ard the mirror with debris raining down around me, and focused my energy on hers. Slowly, my reflection melted away, and hers stared back at me.

  “What are you doing here?” I said, scooting forward just as chunk of brick fell behind me.

  “I came to find you. I came to help you. Where are you?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “I’m being held in a tower. But that’s not important. Callie, you must listen to me. I’m not alone here. Our father is here, too.”

  “Ian?” Callie asked, referring to our adoptive father back in Oregon. “What is he doing there?”

  “No, Bramwell.”

  “How can that be? He’s dead.”

  “I have no idea,” I said. “But he isn’t dead. He’s here, and I think Amalia wants all of us together. She’s been holding him for many years, Callie. She’s been waiting for this.”

  “What does that mean?”

  The room continued to shake, and my resolve was beginning to falter. Debris rained down, but I fought to keep my focus on my sister. “I don’t know what it means. But I know that you can’t come here. Callie, you cannot come after me.”

  “But, Rosamon—”

  “No!” I yelled. “Promise me you’ll stay away. Please…promise me.”

  Callie shook her head, biting down on her bottom lip the way she did when she was upset. Her beautiful violet eyes filled with tears, and a surge of emotional pain jolted through my chest.

  “I’m not going to leave you out there alone.”

  “You have to, Callie.”

  I continued to implore her to listen to me, to explain the dangers of the world I was trapped in. I said everything I could think of to keep her away. Her image began to fade, but I saw her calling out to me. But I couldn’t hear her words. I prayed that she would stay safe.

  Chapter 43

  Logan

  Entering the meeting, I was prepared for whatever happened. I’d made my decision and wasn’t going to change my mind. Even my brothers’ angered stares burning into my back couldn’t shake me.

  I had discussed my plan with them before bringing it before the council. They had both voiced their concerns, and I had patiently listened. But at the end of the conversation, I’d remained firm in my decision.

  “Thank you for meeting again,” I said, moving to the front of the room.

  The eyes of everyone were on me. I felt the pressure of their stares, impatiently waiting for me to explain why I’d called a second meeting in the span of a single day. Turning to face them, I avoided looking in my brothers’ direction.

  “The reason I have called you here is simple,” I said. “I’ve decided to step down as ruler of Shadowland.”

  The expected murmur of confusion filled the room. I waited, while the members exchanged whispered remarks.

  “I am nominating my brothers to take my place.”

  This was met with yet another round of murmurs, which quickly rose in volume. I’d prepared for that reaction, even expected it. Raising my arms in the air to silence them, I cleared my throat before continuing.

  “Valter and Florian have served Shadowland faithfully. They know the inner workings of the city and are prepared for the task.”

  I finally let my gaze drift in their direction. Both of my brothers looked at me with uncertainty in their expressions. The tension in the room continued to rise as my decision was criticized.

  “This is ridiculous,” Raulia said, pushing herself to her feet. “This is the shirking of duty and will not be accepted.”

  “I assure you, it is in the best interest of the realm,” I said, as calmly as I could.

  “Is it?” Raulia said. “Or is it in the best interest of the human girl?”

  “It is my decision,” I said, then slammed my fist down on the table. “And I will not allow you to speak to me in such a manner.”

  “What does it matter now? You’re not our ruler anymore, are you? Your brothers are.”

  “Are we certain they’re the right choice?” one of the council members asked.

  “We should vote.”

  “We should let the citizens of our city decide. What if they want to elect someone else?” another called out.

  “Perhaps a change in leadership would be good. Maybe the Bayne family has been leading us for too long, and look where that’s gotten us.”

  “I say they fight for the title.”

  “Valter and Florian should battle for the title.”

  The voices were beginning to muddle together. I felt dizzy as I tried to make sense of what was going on. I’d anticipated a reaction, but this was not the reaction I’d been prepared for. To think that they would challenge my decision—my family’s right to the throne—was ridiculous.

  “Silence!” I shouted.

  But no one listened. Raulia’s eyes met mine, and I read her thoughts. She glared at me with anger. It was more than that, though. She wasn’t just angry; she was hurt.

  After all pain, the battles, the struggles, I’d abandoned my kingdom for the human girl.

  There was no other choice for me. The pained glances and angry words wouldn’t change my mind. It wasn’t about what was right for me and they’d see that in time. I’d agonized over the decision. I’d been tortured over having to make the choice, since the night that Noah had first taken Callie from my home.

  That was the night that I knew I couldn’t protect her and Crystal City, at the same time. That was the night that my concern for her outweighed any I had for the fight waged in my kingdom. Since the first time I’d lost her, I’d struggled to separate who I was, with who I was supposed to be.

  With Callie, I could be myself. I could be the person I’d hoped I was down deep. But that person wasn’t meant to rule Shadowland. The ruler had to be dedicated to the fight and willing to put the well-being of the vampire race over anything else.

  “They have to fight!” the voices continued to cry out. “We can’t have two leaders!”

  “There can only be one prince of Shadowland!”

  “There can only be one ruler!”

  Chapter 44

  Logan

  I couldn’t believe what was happening around me. The meeting was chaos. Each yelled louder than the last, trying to ensure that their voice was heard above the others.

  “That’s enough!” I said, then stood up.

  This time, the room fell silent. Every eye turned to me. The anger in the room was electric. I felt it strongest from my brothers. I had put them in that situation. I knew they hated it; I hated it.

  They hadn’t spoken a word, however. Through the entire process, they’d sat silently, and witnessed their ability to lead called into question. Even Valter, who normally had a temper paralleled only by my own, remained stone faced through the chaos.

  “I cannot believe what I am seeing,” I said indignantly. “There is no one better equipped to lead our people than my brothers. Asking them to fight for the title they both have the right to claim is ludicrous.”

  The faces around me remained unchanged. They stared at me with expressions of resentment and distrust. I ignored them and stood up a little taller.

  “With my last act of abdication, I ask you to do what is best for all of us. I ask you to consider the realm, to serve the greater good above your own personal desires and prejudices. Accept my brothers, as you know they will rule well.”

  “Why should we listen to you?” one of the Council members said.

  The act of disrespect filled me with rage. I wanted to order him to leave, to remind him who he was speaking to. But since I’d relinquished my title, I was his equal.

  “You should listen to me, because I have put my heart and soul into running this kingdom.”

  Then Raulia spoke. “Until she came along. You want us to do what is best for everyone, to put our own desires aside? How can you ask such a thing when you’ve done the opposite? You’re turning your back on us, Logan.”

  “He is!” another voice chimed in.

  “He do
esn’t care about us anymore. Not since she came along!”

  “She’s the problem!”

  “Don’t you dare bring her into this!” I shouted, my rage nearly blinding. “This is my decision, and I will not be swayed. My motivation is none of your concern.”

  The room fell silent again, everyone around me stunned by my passion-induced outburst. My hands began to shake with the adrenaline pumping through my veins. When they doubted my decision, they pushed me to anger. But when they brought Callie into the conversation, that was crossing a line. That was enough to bring out the side of myself I had fought to tame.

  “What drove me to this decision is not up for discussion,” I said. “What you need to know is that I’ve made it in the best interest of everyone—not just myself. I care about Shadowland. I’ve given everything to ensure the survival of our world. I have fought; I have bled; I have allowed this role to consume me. None of you can say otherwise. Not one of you can tell me that I have not done everything in my power to protect us during my reign. Now, I feel it is best if I step back. It pains me to do so. But I know it is what is best. I will always do what is best for my kingdom.”

  They sat in silence, contemplating my words. The tension didn’t lessen, though. Their faces didn’t change.

  “You may have done what you could when you were our ruler,” one of them spoke. “But you are no longer our prince. You were the one we agreed to follow in this fight. And you’ve chosen to leave us. We should get to choose who we follow now.”

  “Yeah!” a chorus of voices called out in unison.

  And again, the room erupted into a volatile debate. I tried to calm them, but they didn’t care what I had to say. I’d lost their respect and with it, I’d lost any hope I had of determining who would take my place as ruler.

  I’d made the announcement, so there was no more to do. I left the room. The voices behind me continued to call out. It was a roar of words, all spoken as loudly as possible. I felt bad leaving my brothers with such a mess to clean up. I felt guilty walking out of the room without the future of our realm decided. But my place was no longer there.

  I felt bad for Valter and Florian, and guilty for the trouble I’d caused. But I didn’t feel regret. I’d made the right decision.